Donald A. Gratop

Donald A. Gratop May 27, 1920 - October 22, 2008 Mr. Donald Arthur Gratop, 88, life-long Toledo resident and beloved husband of 67 years to Dorothy (Dobrik) Gratop, was received into the arms of his Lord on October 22, 2008. Born in Toledo, Ohio on May 27, 1920, Don was the oldest son of Irene and Arthur Gratop. Don graduated from Waite High School in 1939 and attended The University of Toledo where he was an active member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Don married Dorothy, the love of his life, on November 29, 1941. After enlisting in the army in 1942, Don spent 38 months in the European Theater. Upon his discharge from the army, he was employed by Commercial Electric for years as an office manager. Don began his career in the automotive industry where he spent the next 25 years of his life employed by Roth & Brown Pontiac. Upon retirement, Don accepted employment at The Toledo Art Museum as a security guard where he worked for 15 years. Don enjoyed his position at the museum where he was provided numerous opportunities to meet and talk with visitors from all over the world and share his and his wife's experiences of having traveled all fifty states, the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, and several European countries. He also was a member of the Elks, the American Legion Post #320, Reveler's Dance Club and St. Joan of Arc Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard Gratop. Don is survived by his loving wife, Dorthy, of 67 years; his two sons, John A. (Kathy) Gratop of Aiken, South Carolina, Don R. (Sandy) Gratop of Sylvania, Ohio; four grandsons, Michael Jon of Atlanta, Douglas Carl and Christopher David of Columbia, South Carolina and Matthew Ryan of Charlotte, North Carolina; two granddaughters, Lyndsey Nicole and Kristin Collette of Sylvania, Ohio. Family and friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Sunday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. where the American Legion will have a service at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday beginning at 9:30 a.m., in the mortuary, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church at 10 a.m. Interment Toledo Memorial Park. The family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care and empathy extended to Don and his family by Heartland Hospice, neighbors and friends.